best-journals-research-paper

Guide for best journals to publish research paper 2023


High-impact journals are the custodians of scientific effort and progress. Their sole objective remains to publish comprehensive research with lasting results that will stand up to scrutiny and authentication. As a result, these high-impact journals always try to publish research articles that have strong scientific contribution and impact. The primary points of this work are authenticity and the ability to inspire further research and discussion.

As an aspiring researcher, you may want to publish your research in a high-impact journal. For this, you must first produce innovative and high-quality research. In actuality, it is not as simple as it seems. Some important requirements must be met. Even the most experienced of researchers sometimes overlook these requirements and end up publishing in a low-impact journal. This blog offers some key guidelines required for a researcher to churn out a high-impact research article/paper worthy of being published in a world-class journal.

  • Manuscript Writing
    • Once you have completed your research and obtained fantastic results, you should begin working on writing your manuscript. 
    • The simple secret to successful writing, science or otherwise, is that your story must have meaning. 
    • It has to have an inviting beginning, a powerful middle section, and end with a “take home” message. 
    • Other scientists reading your research need to know –
      • what sort of research you carried out, 
      • your reasons for doing so, 
      • what your findings were, and 
      • your thoughts on these findings. 
  • Good scientific writing necessitates clarity, brevity, and logic. 
  • Every paragraph should be able to stand on its own while providing context to what precedes and what follows. 
  • Use plain language and follow the rules of good grammar, spelling, punctuation, and speaking style. 
  • You should avoid all unnecessary information no matter how much you like it.
  • Include only work relevant to the main subject of the article and the scientific questions it addresses. 
  • The vast majority of high-impact journals have their own standards for manuscript writing.
  • The most conventional convention for scientific manuscripts is – 
    • Introduction, 
    • Methods, 
    • Results, 
    • Discussion, 
    • Acknowledgments, 
    • References, 
    • Tables and Figures.
  • Prior To The Submission Of Your Manuscript
    • Before sending in your manuscript, it is crucial to realize that you only have one chance to catch the curiosity of the editor of the journal in which you wish to publish. 
    • You risk losing this chance if you are not very careful in writing your manuscript. 
    • It’s always a good idea to enlist the help of a non-specialist colleague to review your manuscript and provide feedback. 
    • More importantly, the colleague can advise you if your story is good and your manuscript makes sense. 
    • Particular attention should be given to the title of the manuscript, the abstract, and the cover letter to the editor. 
    • Detailed below are the importance of your manuscript title, abstract, and cover letter.
  • The Significance Of Your Manuscript’s Title
    • The title is the first part of your manuscript that provides important insight into your research. 
    • It is therefore essential to choose a catchy title that substantially covers your searches. 
    • It should accurately reflect the content of your manuscript and entice the reader to continue to read. 
    • A good title should –
      • be focussed, 
      • convey the theme of your research, and 
      • highlight the essence of your research. 
    • Your title should be neither too long nor too short. 
    • It’s always recommended that you write down a few headings that you like the most, think about how they convey the content of the manuscript and select the one that fits best. 
    • Ask your colleagues to help you.
  • The Importance Of Nailing Your Abstract
    • An abstract reflects the main theme of your manuscript. 
    • Many publishers only read the abstract of the manuscript they receive.
    • Therefore, they should be able to tell the whole story. 
    • What questions should an abstract answer? 
    • In its simplest form, your abstract should answer these key questions –
      • What was done? 
      • Why do you think your findings are useful and important? 
      • What is the scientific contribution? 
    • If you follow this simple format, your abstract will be complete and distinguished. Be sure to follow the guidelines given by the journal when writing your abstract and be aware of the word limit for the abstract.
  • The Criticality Of Your Cover Letter
    • The cover letter holds as much significance as the abstract. In the cover letter to the editor, you are actually trying to “sell” your article to the journal. 
    • You’ve got to take make sure to keep the editor and get his/her attention captivated throughout.  
    • You only have one chance, so you have to do it the best way possible. 
    • In the cover letter, you must give the editor a reason to send your article for external peer review. 
    • When it comes to writing a top-notch cover letter, it is recommended that you –
      • Address the editor by name. This means that you know the editorial board of the journal and have also taken the time to verify it.
      • Do not make mistakes in the name of the journal or the publisher. This usually takes place when authors submit their manuscripts to another journal without making any changes, right after getting rejected by the previous journey. 
      • Make sure your letter isn’t too short or too long, and doesn’t just repeat the summary.
      • Concentrate on the novelty aspect of your research; this should help pique the editor’s curiosity.
      • Specify why your research falls within the scope of the journal.
      • It is advised that you let the editor know if your manuscript has been rejected by another journal and to include previous reviews and your response.
  • Choosing The Right High-Impact Journal
    • Choosing an appropriate journal is one of the most important and difficult aspects of publishing scientific work. 
    • Assessing the quality of your own work and its place in the hierarchy of scientific journals is not simple and necessitates a lot of know-how. 
    • So you need to be able to rate and evaluate your work on the novelty scale, impact scale, and priority scale. 
    • High-impact journals wish to publish new findings that have a significant impact on the field. 
    • This is what defines high priority. 
    • You also need to be frank about the quality and impact of your work. 
    • For instance, if your study was presented at an international meeting and was very well received by the public and the chairs, and it raised high-quality questions answered by experts, then your work is likely to interest the high-impact journals within your specialty.
  • However, it is a good idea to accurately assess the quality of your work and aim for the most appropriate journal from the outset. 
  • Therefore, assess the –
    • goals, 
    • assignment, 
    • interests, 
    • scope, etc., 

of relevant journals. 

  • It’s also acceptable to pre-submit a high-impact review if you think your work is worthwhile. If they permit you to submit, you are just where you need to be.
  • Successfully Submitting Your Manuscript
    • Once your manuscript has been received by the online system, it will be carefully reviewed by the editorial assistant, who will uncover any discrepancies that you may have overlooked in the first place. 
    • This is where annoying delays can occur, but these should be avoided if you follow log instructions.
  • The manuscript is then sent for scrutiny by the Editor-in-Chief. 
  • The Editor-in-Chief reviews your manuscript and, unless the work is very poor, hands it over to an Associate Editor from the journal’s editorial board.
  • The Associate Editor verifies the manuscript and decides whether to send it for peer review or reject it without such review. 
  • In the event your manuscript is sent for external review, this means you’ve made a good impression and presented your work to a high-impact journal. 
  • It is recommended that you register and partake in an upcoming virtual conference in 2023 to learn about the importance of submitting your manuscript the right way in detail. 
  • What Are The Grounds For Immediate Refusal?
    • The most common reason for an immediate rejection is that the manuscript is not suitable for the journal. 
    • Other reasons include –
      • The absence of any originality.
      • This is more of a descriptive work than a statistical work.
      • This poses an uninteresting question that leads nowhere.
      • The manuscript has a bad study design.
  • The Peer Review Process
    • If the editorial board of the journal decides that your manuscript is worthy and has a chance of being published, they will seek external peer review. 
    • The percentage of manuscripts selected for this pathway differs from journal to journal. 
    • Nevertheless, high-impact journals will send only the best articles for external peer review. 
    • After the external peer review, the available decisions include rejection, major revisions or minor revisions, and acceptance. 
    • Acceptance without change is extremely rare. 
    • Even the best-written articles have minor flaws. 
    • The most common reasons for a manuscript’s rejection after being peer-reviewed include –
      • research design and method defects,
      • absence of any originality,
      • absence of a succinct, to-the-point message,
      • small/incremental effect,
      • little issues that together constitute major problems,
      • the essence of the research is not properly explained,
      • the study has disjointed graphics,
      • the numbers just don’t add up, and the discrepancies (if any) aren’t explained.
  • Important Review Decision
    • If you receive an important review decision, it means your manuscript has a chance but has not yet been accepted for publication. 
    • Editors expect you to treat feedback completely and fairly. 
    • If you aren’t able to answer certain questions or do the additional work requested, you must state very precisely why this is the case. 
    • Bear in mind that external peer reviewers are unpaid, and as such, they do a great service to the journal, the authors, and science in general.
  • Essential Requirements For High-Quality Research
    • What are the essential conditions for good research? 
    • For new and inexperienced researchers, having a good team with an expert research supervisor is essential. 
    • Research supervisors are essential to guide us through the process of good research. 
    • They motivate new seekers to explore the best of themselves, to focus, and ensure success. 
    • At the beginning of your research journey, it is essential to know what has already been researched and published earlier. 
    • There is no incentive to merely rephrasing existing articles.
  • What Is Your Research Question?
    • What is your research question? 
    • In general, the research question should arise from the literature with room for further research and debate. 
    • It is, therefore, best to avoid any area of ​​this type that has been the subject of much research. 
    • It’s a good idea to select an area of ​​active research where the likelihood of having new ideas to explore is high. 
    • Supporting your research with data is essential. 
    • A research question answered by data, which is reproducible, is very valuable.
  • Team Work
    • It takes an expert team to come up with world-class research. 
    • Working alone is time-consuming, voluntary, and in most cases, leads to poor quality search results. 
    • Work in collaboration with national/international groups. 
    • Multicenter studies have a high impact and weight and ensure that your research gets published in high-impact journals.
  • Solid Study Design
    • You must have a good study design as it is an essential part of your research.
    • If your research design is flawed, you may not be able to correct it at the time of writing your manuscript, even if you have good writing skills. 
    • All publishers look for the quality of the research design as the first parameter.
    • If defective, the manuscript will not advance further and will be rejected. 
    • It’s a good idea to involve a statistician early in your research to help you define a primary endpoint before you begin.
  • Real-Word Applicability Of The Research
    • The cleanest numbers, the most compelling story, and perfect English won’t help you if your study isn’t of the kind published by top-tier journals. 
    • These journals often publish research that the science sections of journals write about, and the science programs of radio stations report on. 
    • Before you think about submitting your paper, ask yourself if you can imagine a headline for your study in any of the globally reputed newspapers of the time. 
    • Or even in a magazine or online platform specializing in the popularization of scientific research.
  • Particularly, high-impact journals look for studies that are (societally) relevant.
  • They must solve a big problem and have serious implications – whether for an application or something more fundamental.
  • You can do a quick check by telling a relative, friend, or neighbor who is not a scientist about your study. 
  • Do they immediately understand what you’re talking about, and are they impressed? Definitely a candidate then. 
  • Does writing for a high-impact journal sound daunting? 
  • Can this be partly because you never had any formal training in the art of academic writing?
  • The Caliber Of The Research Must Speak For Itself
    • Even if you present a solution to a big problem, your research must be strong enough for the best journals in the world to consider. 
    • These reviews generally look for studies whose results are substantiated using varying relevant methods or considering different conditions or model systems or whatever is applicable to your study. 
    • This means that datasets should generally be quite complete.
  • For instance, if you notice effect X, you should not only check with method A but even with method B. 
  • If you have come up with an entirely brand new method Y, you should study if it works on both model systems C as well as D and for the pertinent parameters E, F, and G. 
  • This may mean that you will need to include results in a study that you would have split into two or more articles for a more specialized journal.
  • And last but not least – read the “Objective and Scope” section of the journal of your choice and cross-check the described requirements with what your study can provide. 
  • It seems trivial, but don’t ignore it.
  • Your Manuscript Needs To Be Narrative
    • Storytelling is really important. 
    • Some researchers think they should make use of storytelling to “sell their research”. 
    • “Selling” usually has a negative connotation, and it seems to many people to imply that you are tricking the editor and reviewers into making your research sound better than it actually is. 
    • First, that’s not what storytelling does, and second, selling isn’t always a bad thing (but let’s talk about that another time).
  • What you’re doing when you tell a story in your journal is instead helping your reader understand what you’re talking about. 
  • If you incorporate story elements such as central message, problem, solution, and implications into your article, your reader will more easily understand your research and will likely find it more compelling. 
  • You gave them context and meaning, not just the facts.
  • The Data Your Offer Should Be Easily Graspable
    • Your numbers are the heart of your manuscript, they display your findings, and many readers (and journal editors) jump right to the numbers. 
    • The worst thing any researcher can do here is to confuse their readers.
    • Clutter, inconsistent color coding, too much data, or the wrong type of plotting can turn off your reader and, in some cases, distort the meaning of your data.
  • Crisp Sentencing & Clear Language Go A Long Way
    • Often, scientific writers confuse being a native speaker with knowing how to write when in fact, the two things are entirely separate. 
    • Being a native speaker can help with mastering grammar and spelling, but effectively communicating your ideas on paper requires writing skills. 
    • So don’t worry if you’re not an English speaker, you can still learn to write well.
  • Good writing is clear and concise. 
  • So, you may as well put an end to those long sentences and paragraphs that stretch over an entire page. 
  • You also want to avoid repetition (but don’t confuse that with using inconsistent terminology). 
  • When writing your article, it is recommended that you analyze each sentence, each word even – do they add new information? 
  • You might be surprised at how many filler words you use that don’t add anything meaningful.
  • To convey your story clearly, it is essential to use consistent terminology and the correct verb tense. 
  • Any decent Scopus indexed conference 2023 worth its salt will have a session dedicated to the art of academic research writing. 
  • Register for one today!
  • Your Abstract Has To Have A Narrative Quality To It As Well
    • It is not enough to list a summary of your results in your summary or abstract paragraph, especially if you are writing for a newspaper with a large audience. 
    • Think about it – how important will your findings be to a scientist in another field or discipline? 
    • Structuring your summary so that it tells a story is something you can do for most newspapers unless they need something else. 
  • Adhere To Your Chosen Journal’s Guide For Authors To The Tee
    • If your study is excellent and groundbreaking, your story is in place, your numbers are remarkable, and your writing is succinct, you can further reduce your chances of being rejected by following the journal’s guidelines in every detail. 
    • For high-impact journals specifically, the list can be long – 
      • word count, 
      • reference format, 
      • order of headings, 
      • requirements for titles, 
      • titles and subtitles, 
      • but it’s worth it. 
    • You’re showing the editor you’ve put in the effort, and you’re also making their life easier (always a good thing).
  • The Importance Of A Convincing Cover Letter Cannot Be Overstated
    • Another crucial aspect is your cover letter. 
    • You may feel like you have already said what you need to say in your article, but never just copy and paste the text of your article into your cover letter. 
    • The cover letter may be your only chance to speak directly to the journal editor. 
    • If you want to understand what editors like to read in a cover letter, you should consult your colleagues (preferably those who have successfully published their research in top journals).
  • If you’ve never published in a high-impact factor journal but think your new research might have a chance, you shouldn’t be afraid to give it a go. 
  • Even if the document is not accepted, you can get useful comments and suggestions for your next submission.
  • The Professional Way To React In Case Of Your Manuscript Being Rejected
    • The initial reaction of most authors whose papers are rejected is anger and a desire to send an immediate response to the editor. 
    • It’s a natural reaction, but you don’t have to be emotional. 
    • The best approach is to deal with this with a level head, maybe even after a reasonable period of reflection. 
    • Maintain humility at all times and learn to be accepting of criticism as no manuscript is perfect ever. 
    • It is recommended that you review the enhanced manuscript and then submit it to a brand newjournal. 
    • If you send it to a new journal, make sure you have corrected the weaknesses of the first version. 
    • It is really bad practice to quickly return the manuscript and simply send an identical version to the next journal. 
    • Remember that in a specialized area, you may have the same reviewer, so answer all their questions.
  • The Professional Way To React If Your Manuscript Is Accepted
    • Before you celebrate your achievement, there are a few more things you need to take care of. 
    • If you did not complete them at the time of submission, you must complete the Assignment of Copyright and Conflict of Interest forms. 
    • Your manuscript is deposited and copied. 
    • Galley proofs will be sent over to you, and you’ll be asked to provide answers to questions from the team that’s undertaking production, within a set time frame. 
    • This is also the step for updating all the references in your bibliography section. 
    • Once all of this is complete, your manuscript will be scheduled for “online-first” publication, and you will receive a Digital Object Identification (DOI) number, which helps identify electronic documents. 
    • This is proof of publication and may be used in your resume, grant application, or in the bibliography of other manuscripts.

In a nutshell, the process of publishing a manuscript in a high-impact journal starts with the following points –

  • What is your question? An important question helps a lot.
  • Design a comprehensive study supported by data.
  • Conduct your research with integrity and uncompromising care.
  • Write a brilliant manuscript and submit it to an appropriate journal.
  • Respond to reviewer comments and perform standard post-acceptance checks.

There isn’t anything more rewarding than having your article published in a high-impact journal that is visible around the world. Hard work and focus pay off and bring lasting progress in your career as a research scientist. Get the IFERP mobile app to read up on more insightful and educational blogs such as this one.